The Fallen Argonaut
Rated; M (Blood/Gore)
Disclaimer; I do not own Danmachi or anything created by the author Fujino Ōmori, all rights go to him.
Authors: Eli-er01 & ViceroyChalister
Patreon: Elier01
Chapters 74 (Lunar Wolf) and Chapter 75 (The Star Maiden) are already available on my Patreon
Summary: The will of a hero is strong, yet unwavering but all good things must come to an end, even at the cost of one's Heroic Will. Imprisoned and blamed for a crime he hadn't committed, Bell seeks a way out of his predicament so that he can live without fear of being hunted by the people he once looked up to.
73: Assault
=Orario, Eastern Gate, Day after the Ambush=
The guards that guarded the gates, were idly chatting with one another. Most days were pretty quiet, especially on the eastern side due to the Alv Mountains blocking most potential roads.
In the past decade or so, there had been more traffic, but mostly merchants or the odd stray from a village or the Far East who wished to see the labyrinth city, but the past day or so, it had been forty-eight hours since Orario had marched.
Ganesha familia had been the only large familia not taking part, due to the city not being allowed to be left defenseless. They needed someone to keep the peace while the war waged.
But said war made the job of guarding the gates even more boring. No one wanted to enter a place currently in war with another. More likely than not, people would try to get away from it in fear of what could possibly happen. It was just mortal nature to fear what was a possibility.
So, when one of the guards spotted a large entourage of carriages heading toward the gate, it shocked them. Merchants always came in one or two carriages, not a dozen or so, and the guards they could see, were on alert.
"Halt! State your business" One of the Ganesha familia guards spoke up, taking a step forward with his hand out, the other gripping his spear.
"Entrouage for the Empress of the Far East, to see a personal friend" The guard riding the carriage at the front spoke as he blinked.
"Okay, we are going to have to check all of you for a falna. Regular security I am afraid" The guard stated, sounding a bit apologetic.
"I am afraid it is of the utmost urgency that our lady sees her friend as soon as possible." The monotone voice it was stated in, speaking of how it was out of the question that it would happen instantly alerted the guards, readying their spears.
"With all due respect, sir. But that is not possible"
"What is going on here?" A head peaked out of the carriage, the long black hair silk-like as a concerned look was etched on the beautiful woman's face, clearly of Eastern origin.
"It is of nothing you should worry about, Milady. A small disagreement is all" The guard on the carriage informed as Asuka frowned before stepping out onto the road and walking up to join them.
"Then may I hear to what this agreement pertains to" She asked as the guard tried to speak as she gave a small glare towards him.
"I am your queen, and if I see it fit to handle something, no matter how inconsequential, it is my right. Or am I wrong?" She challenged as his mouth instantly snapped shut, unable to refute that claim
Feeling she had suitably reprimanded the man, she turned towards the gate guards and gave a small bow out of courtesy.
"My apologies for the actions of my guards. I am Asuka Yume, Empress of the Far East. I am here to see a personal family friend, and hopefully provide aid to him and his family" She spoke as the guards at the gate visibly relaxed, their grips loosening as a few smiles broke out at the polite tone.
"Oh, do not worry- ehm… your Highness" He spoke, unsure of what formal greeting he should use.
"Oh, please, none of the formalities. It's stuffed enough at the castle, and I do not need them here. Just Asuka is fine" she spoke, internally laughing as the guard behind her gurgled on his own spit at her words.
The reactions never ceased to amuse her.
"Right, Asuka-san, we simply have to go through the protocol of checking for statuses-" He spoke as Asuka nodded and let out a small 'ah'-
"Right, Bell did say something about that. That is quite fine. I am alright with that, I currently do not have a falna, though showing my back in this dress might be a bit…" She looked down with a sheepish look before pointing to the carriage.
"Could I quickly change?" She asked as the man blushed and nodded.
"Oh, y-yeah, haha. Of course" She nodded in appreciation as she left and entered back into the cart.
Minutes passed with the gate guards talking lightly, a few kicking some random pebbles on the ground before she finally got out, another person beside her.
Asuka's long kimono, which had been a mixture of red, black, and purple had been replaced with a far more casual outfit. A white shirt, stopping at her forearm with red skintight pants. It looked anything but what royalty of a country would wear, let alone a far eastern one.
The truth was, Bell had gifted her these clothes a few years back, as she had been interested in the fashion outside the Far East, having not been able to visit much outside. She had seen glimpses, but having some to test out had given her a much-improved view of it.
Given that she was heading to Orario, for what could be quite some time, she figured that it was best to bring some of those clothes along, to fit in more instead of dressing like royalty anywhere she goes.
Though really, she just wanted to be free of the expectations and do what she wanted. Being herself was a rarity, and it would be nice when she finally reached Bell's familia.
God, she missed them all.
"Kasumi, could you bring everyone to the front?" Asuka asked as the man bowed and headed back, beginning to do just as asked.
"Everyone is on their way, here." She turned around, carefully lifting her skirt and giving a pointed look at the guard who had been arguing with the Ganesha familia earlier, who appeared to want to stop her
"Alright, one second" The Ganesha familia guard stated before something dropped onto her back as nothing happened.
"Alright, you're good. Next?" She dropped her shirt back down before glancing at the bottle he held.
'Status thief?' she idly wondered. She thought those were illegal… perhaps additional security due to the war? It would make sense, they wouldn't want any spies, especially those with statuses to appear and wreak havoc on unsuspecting familias now that so many were left vulnerable.
One by one, each and every one of Asuka's entourage got their status checked as they had to answer questions about some of their statuses, but that wasn't too hard, given that Amaterasu was a well-known goddess as well as well-liked by merchants.
Eventually, they were allowed entrance, and for the first time since she left the Far East, Asuka was in awe at the sheer variety of races that littered the street. From Elves to humans, to were-tigers and Boaz. Anything and everything one could think of was here… well, apart from the rarest of them all. She had only met a select few, mainly from the Sanjouno familia.
Regards.
That was of no surprise though. But it wasn't just the people, but the stalls, the smells, the sights. It was so different from the Far East. The architecture was unrecognizable from the minka of her home. Where they had buildings that weren't tall, their extended multiple floors, the alleyways tight, but just enough space for two or three people to walk in a line… and the main streets.
It was wider than any road in or out of Kitzumara… and finally… dear god. She now understood what Bell had meant when he'd said that one had to see it to understand.
Babel Tower was HUGE! When she'd seen it at such a distance, it had done it no justice at all. The true scale was when you were inside the city's walls.
"So this… this is the labyrinth city…" Asuka breathed out as her entire upper body was leaning out of the carriage, mouth open with a wide smile, eyes sparkling.
Kasumi who had been here before, simply smiled and enjoyed the sight of someone seeing all of this for the first time. That in and of itself was something special.
"Indeed. Quite the sight, isn't it, Milady?"
"Yes! It's amazing… dear heaven, I can see why so many want to live here. It's so… exotic!" Kasumi laughed at that. It was what the people outside Orario called the Far East.
It just proves that everything is a matter of perspective.
"Milady, we are nearing Archian Manor" The drives spoke as Asuka nodded, not taking her eyes off of the tower.
That was until she heard giggling and laughter from the street, following her carriage. Looking down, she saw a kid running and laughing, a werewolf boy.
Grinning, she reached down letting their fingers touch, before the boy slowly stopped, panting as she pushed her fingers through her black hair, holding it in place as her smile turned into a content one.
Eventually, though, their trip had to end as she laid eyes on the manor right as they rounded a corner. It was no Yume Castle, but the architecture itself had her intrigued. Different, and exciting. Stopping the cart, she got out, telling the guards to park the carriages inside as she walked through the gates.
She was safe here, she knew that. This was a place she was welcome, that Bell had told her.
'Asuka, please, no need to be so stiif. You are always welcome in our home, like you have stated we are welcome in yours, never forget that' His voice echoed in her mind.
Walking up the steps to the door, she knocked and waited. Her heart hammering as excitement filled her.
When she heard the door opening, her back straightened as she readied her next words, only for them to fly out of her mind the moment she laid eyes on who opened the door… or more necessarily, who didn't.
Blinking at the blonde chienthrope woman with red eyes, she silently wondered who this was. She did not recognize her… perhaps… a familia member? They did establish one, perhaps they had been recruiting- no, wait, she had a maid outfit.
"Yes? Can I be of assistance?" The unknown chienthrope asked as Asuka realized she'd been staring.
"Oh! Apologies, this is the Archian Manor, correct? Residency of the Themis Familia?" She asked, emphasizing the familia name as the woman nodded.
"That's good. I am a friend of your captain. My name is Asuka Yume. I was wondering if I could come inside"
"Asuka… Yume…?" The chienthrope questioned, almost as if tasting the name on her mouth before-
"Asuka? What are you doing here?" A familiar voice spoke up as she spotted a certain god walking down the stairs, holding a small chienthrope child.
"Ah, Erebus-sama. It is good to see you once more" The young empress greeted with a kind smile.
"That it is, Fina. She's a friend, let her in" The god nodded along at the chienthrope Asuka memorized as Fina. Stepping inside the manor, she looked around, taking in the atmosphere, and dare she say that she liked it… it felt… welcoming. Homey? Was that a word? She believes it is… wait…
"Aww, is that her child?" Asuka asked as she finally noticed the child in the god's arms as he nodded.
"Yes, it is" He answered as he smiled at Fina who blinked as she took a step closer.
"Aww, he's adorable!" Asuka cooed as she offered her finger, only for the child to grab hold of it and gurgle out a small giggle.
"T-thank you…" Fina blushed, though given that her tail was wagging and her ears twitching with a smile on her lips, she was quite happy at the compliment her child was getting.
"Now, not that I do not enjoy the surprise, I wonder to what do we owe the pleasure of you visiting? It can't be easy for an empress-"
"Empress!?"
"-to find time to visit us here in Orario" Fina screeched out incredulously while Erebus carried on, not caring in the least.
"No, it is not… but when I heard of you all returning to Orario, and that you are looking for… that deity… I just had to help in any way I could" She answered truthfully as Erebus slowly nodded.
"I see… but as much as I appreciate it, how would you be able to help?" He asked as she smiled and nodded towards the carriages outside.
"I brought some people of my own. They are a highly classified order of the Far East, specializing in information gathering as well as partially in assassination. It is said they are more proficient than even Hermes Familia in that regard… and if anything political occurs, I do believe that I could help with that… now where is everyone?" The last part instantly sparked something in Erebus' eyes as his mouth closed. The action put Asuka on alert and she frowned.
"Has something happened- wait? Have they already departed?" She asked, surprised at the speed at which they had prepared. She'd expected at least a few more days. It appears she had underestimated Orario's capabilities.
"Yes, something did happen." He spoke as she nodded, but before she could ask him anything, he motioned for her to follow him.
A peek behind her gave her the view of the chienthropes happiness completely evaporating, her ears drooping, her head turned to the side as her tail hugged her legs.
'What…?' she thought as she walked up, following the god. Turning a left corner, they eventually arrived at a room where Erebus stood by the door, motioning for her to enter.
The moment she walked inside, her body froze, her heart stopping at the Elf laying on the bed, medical equipment to feed a patient by the side of the bed.
"E-elora…?" She whimpered out as she took a step forward, not believing what she was seeing.
"Kaius nearly cleaved her in half. If Bell hadn't brought her here as fast as he did, she'd be dead… though we do not know when she'll wake. We are in a better situation than when she arrived. We at least know she will eventually wake up, but it could be anywhere between a few days to a few months. Her status as a level seven is naturally healing her body, but it's taking time" The explanation only made it worse for Asuka as she slowly inched forward, before sitting down on the side of the bed, softly, tentatively, and hesitantly laid her hand on the elf's own.
It was warm, but it didn't react, it didn't so much as twitch. The only thing that signaled that the woman was alive was the way her chest was slowly rising and falling.
"Oh… Elora…" She whispered softly, her heart breaking as she leaned forward, pushing a lock of her blonde hair away from her closed eyes.
It felt wrong seeing her like this, so helpless. She always was so strong the few times she'd visited Anfesera. So bright and welcoming… and Bell…
God, where was Bell? She knew that this… it would break him. After how he reacted to Adrienne being kidnapped and killed, nearly losing another person, especially someone so close and important as his wife, would destroy him.
"W-where…?" She asked, looking back, her green eyes worried as the god sighed.
"Out there… spreading chaos among Kaius' ranks on his own" She blinked at that as she nodded slowly.
"I see… why? I get that this… it broke something in him, but his family needs him. Can't he see that?" She asked, eliciting a nod from the god.
"He can, but sometimes, a man has had enough. From what I hear, Bell alone had taken down one-third of the Empire's level sixes, and that doesn't even account for the level fives and below. I honestly pity Kaius, he doesn't stand a chance" He answered.
"He has? He's gotten that strong?"
…
One nod was all Erebus had to do as she became even more flabbergasted.
"B-but Kaius is Level eight, and Bell is Level seven-"
"Eight. He leveled up, though no one knows" That, caused Asuka to blanch. What could she even say to that?
"Even so, as a Level seven, he'd still win. Bell is just that strong… to put it into words that you might understand given your education, he is the last monster of the Zeus and Hera familia's, and at this point, has surpassed both of them"
"W-wait!? You mean-?" And her words were lost as she glanced toward the sleeping Elora and back at Erebus.
"Yes, at this point, Bell is the strongest mortal to have lived since Albert Waldstein, in every aspect. Strength, Endurance, Dexterity, Agility, or Magic. He excels beyond anyone else in the world in each area. Soon enough… he'll be ready"
"Ready…?"
…
Erebus stared at her long and hard, contemplating if he should say it. The moment made Asuka's heart beat harder as she wondered what was going through the god's mind before finally-
"Ready for the promised time. It is so close, we are in the final stretch. Soon… the world will be plunged into the final struggle, that will decide the fate of this world… and for that, we need one last hero…" He finished, reminiscing on that time when he, Zald, and Alfia had ventured to try to find that Hero… talking in that church, and mentioning her nephew.
The Irony… it would have been better if they'd trained Bell… if he hadn't gotten involved in the first place. Maybe… he'd already be ready if he had not convinced them to do what they had.
He wonders… how different would things be?
"You… you believe that is Bell?" Asuka whispered in awe as he slowly nodded.
"I cannot disclose more details, but yes. I do believe he will be the centerpiece, and that the fate of the world is in his hands"
Asuka gulped, not knowing what to say. Turning back towards Elora, she figured that the best she could do, was to be here. To help where she could… and pray that one of these days, Bell returns.
=Ardian Forest, Twelve Hours Before The Ambush=
"Now… we have much to discuss, Epsilon" Bell growled out, glaring down at the two as she was shaking up a storm.
"W-what… d-do you want?" She whispered out as Kappa next to her was holding his legs while glaring up at Bell with hatred.
"Y-you… how… how are you even alive…?" He growled out through the pain as Bell's murderous gaze turned to him, scourge doing its job as his head out of pure instinct lowered, eyes refusing to meet Bell's… as if a prey had recognized its predator.
"Your commander fucked up. He had the chance, and he missed it. Next time, I won't hold back even an inch" His voice was cold enough to freeze his blood.
"Though finding you here is an unexpected boon. Judging from the name she called you by… Kappa, was it? You're one of Nakul's as well. Good, make this easier" He spoke before turning towards Narvi.
"I am surprised it was you, who is the snake, Narvi, if that is even your name?" The woman underneath paled even further. This had all gone downhill so fast. She had no room for response, no room for adaption… it was just… it was all so unfair!
"Now, I understand that Nakul's headquarters is on the western waterfront, but he is barely ever there. So… I am in dire need of information. So I will start here. What was your mission?" He asked, not blinking once as he poured a bit more scourge against Narvi as she whimpered, lips quivering, but silent nonetheless.
Slowly, his frown deepened before he violently grabbed Kappa's throat, bringing him up into the air, before grabbing hold of one of his fingers, and glaring down at Narv- no, Epsilon.
"Now, Epsilon, will you cooperate? You have five seconds to answer before my grip becomes tight enough to snap his bones" He spoke, his grip tightening backward as he felt the bones creak.
…
…
*Crack*
"AGH-Ugh!" Bell in an instant snapped his hand up, hitting him on the throat as his voice stopped, seemingly disappearing as Kappa was unable to breathe for a long moment.
"What did I say about making noise? Try to scream one more time, and this will get a lot harder for you… though that depends on her as well" He turned back to Epsilon before grabbing hold of Kappa's hand this time.
"I will ask again. What was your mission?"
…
…
*Crack*
"Mghhhhhh-" Kappa bit his lip, holding the scream in as Bell glanced at him and then back as he moved his hand up to his forearm.
"What… was your mission?"
…
…
*Crack*
"Gah-ughhhh…." For a split moment a noise a bit louder than a muffled scream escaped, though he managed to hold it in just in time as Bell once more moved up, this time to his shoulders.
"What… was… your mission?"
…
…
"To…" Bell stopped, not revealing anything but cold, calculation from his expression.
"To keep tabs on the upper echelon-"
"Shut up, Epsilo-" Bell snapped his fist against Kappa's mouth, breaking his jaw as he narrowed his eyes at the woman.
"Go on" He encouraged with a hard voice.
"To keep tabs on the upper echelons of Orario and report the progress to the empire… to keep them updated on the strength of the city… and potential sabotage" Bell stared at her for a long moment, listening to her heart, every twitch and change in facial expression… how yes eyes reflected her emotions.
Hopelessness. That was the thing he picked up the most She's speaking the truth.
Dropping Kappa to the ground, with only one arm not broken and both legs unusable, he simply lay there, staring in betrayal at the woman.
"You caved surprisingly easily. Aren't you trained in this?" He asked as she slowly whimpered.
"W-what's the point? If I betray the empire, they kill me… if I don't, you kill me…" She uttered as Bell frowned.
"Is that so? Then why betray them at all? You meet the same fate either way" His question was met with an unexpected look. One too was screaming that she couldn't believe that he couldn't figure it out.
"Nakul… he is everything to me… but the rest of them. Kaius… Varede…the Emperor. All of them… I hate them. Where Nakul saved me, they only used me. That is what the empire does. They use people for their own agendas. If I die either way… then I can at least make sure to help them meet the same fate" She answered as he nodded.
"You realize that I will kill Nakul too?"
…
She remained silent, not deigning to give that a response as Bell sighed. He just couldn't understand her, but now that she was cooperative, even if he could not get why, he might as well see what he could get from this.
"Well, do you know where he is?" It took a bit before she finally shook her head.
"No… but…"
"Hmm?"
"He should…-"
"You surprise me, Cranel." Bell instantly whirled around, looking up at the tree where the man himself sat on a branch, dangling his feet as he tilted his head, twirling a blade in his hand.
"You not only managed to disrupt our operations that Kaius is having a mental breakdown, but you managed to track not one, but two of my agents down. I am honestly very impressed" He began mock clapping as he sheathed his blade, Bell glaring as he drew conclusions.
"When Epsilon requested a meeting, I figured something might go wrong, so… here I am"
"Nakul…" Bell whispered before scoffing, glaring up at him as his scourge exploded out of him enough that anyone who had a view of the area above the trees would see a giant red mist, seeping upwards before dissipating.
"Oh, now that is some malice, but could we do this with some civil-" Faster than anyone could blink, Bell's sword was drawn as he had closed the distance swiping his sword hard as an afterimage of smoke was cut in half, alongside multiple lines of trees and a part of the ground before-
*BOOOM*
The entire area shook, reverberating as the ground caved in from the sheer force of Bell's attack, before he finally landed, frowning before glaring behind him, Nakul holding onto Kappa on his good arm
"I apologize for cutting this short, but I am on the clock… sorry Epsilon, but I can't save you." He spoke before Bell once more teleported in their eye, only for him to realize there was something in Nakul's hand, right as it flashed bright enough to completely throw his attack off, missing both him and Kappa by a hair margin as the ground once more exploded and shook from the force.
Bell immediately reverted to using his other senses as he listened for anything, trying to feel anything whatsoever… but nothing but the movement on the ground, and the coughing from Epsilon coming from that location.
When his vision finally cleared, he looked around, but Nakul was gone… leaving Bell frustrated as he grit his teeth before he took a deep breath.
Alright, he had gained some information off of him, namely whatever that move was.
The moment he was about to hit him with his blade, his body was covered in a small black mist after he whispered something… and whatever it was, his blade just went through him without doing anything,
Magic?
It was the only thing that made sense, though it wasn't any magic he'd ever heard of before… annoying. Turning back towards Epsilon, he took a step forward as she looked up at him in fear, but his back instantly straightened as he felt a familiar sensation.
The soft sound of a breeze, near silent footsteps, and the sound of reverberations of a rapier entered his ears as he stood still, frozen as he knew instinctively who had just arrived.
"Bell…?" The voice was quiet, disbelieving as he painfully slowly turned around, before his eyes finally met hers. Her golden irises met his own as his throat went dry.
There, right in front of him stood someone he did not want to meet at the moment. Her golden hair was like waves of the brightest gold.
"Ais…" He whispered out.
"What… Narvi?" She whispered in shock.
"Miss Ais! H-he attacked me!" Epsilon instantly latched on to the hope that had presented itself as the sword princess looked a mix between horrified, scandalized, and disbelieving.
"He… what?" Her gaze met his own again, seeking answers as he remained silent. He didn't need this… he needed to… needed to…
But something in his heart stopped him from doing what he wanted to do. A piece of him that locked onto his legs, freezing them, disallowing them from moving.
"Bell… please… talk to me… allow me to understand" Ais begged as his heart tugged left and right. He wanted to desperately to fight it, to run, but a memory of himself on top of the wall, Freya speaking words that reverberated with him deeper than he'd like flashed through his mind.
"I-"
"Ais! What's happening!?" Tione's voice invaded his ears right before he did something he thought he'd regret, his eyes turning before hardening as he laid eyes on the Amazon, a certain Dwarf following along behind.
"Ais, wha- oh…" Tione stopped as she frowned.
"Bell? What the hell are you doing? Narvi?"
"What is goin' on here lad?"
Bell just stood there before he took a step back right as a pair of heavier footsteps walked up to them, a greatsword on his back as his bulking muscles flexed with the movements.
"Cranel. Is that her?" Ottar spoke, getting right to business as Narvi paled at the wording, instantly piecing it together.
"Yes. Take care of her, I have an assassin to chase." The next moment, Bell turned around as Ais reached forward, mouthing one word as her wind activated before she broke forward, following Bell as he shot away from them like a bullet, the sound barrier breaking instantly as the two raced away, leaving Narvi and the rest of the first class adventurers as Ottar stared her down right before both Gareth and Tione stepped in front of him right as he took a step forward.
"Oy, that's a member of our familia there, lad" Gareth warned as Tione glared.
"She is a traitor. She's part of the Empire." Ottar spoke matter of factly, not mincing his words in the slightest.
"Huh!? What the hell are you on about you big oaf?" Tione was clearly ticked off, glaring daggers as the level eight turned to her, his expression telling her just how little she intimidated him.
"Cranel found a report among the empire's information post. It detailed her, who calls herself Epsilon" He answered before his sword was lowered from his shoulders.
"Now, either you move, or I make you. Your choice"
When the two did not move, Ottar, faster than either could react, smacked Tione far into the treeline before blocking Gareth's axe with his hand before ripping it out of his arm and slamming the Dwarf face first into the ground, the ground caving in, cracks and pieces of rocks sticking out as Epsilon shrieked as she momentarily found herself in the air before landing back on the ground, aggravating her broken legs.
In what amounted to an instant, the two-level sevens were down for the count, Gareth gritting his teeth as Ottar held him and Tione clutching her stomach as she puked out whatever she had eaten earlier.
The difference between levels seven and eight was simply that large.
Finally, he turned back to Epsilon and wordlessly walked up and threw her over his shoulder, turning around, and leaving before she could so much as scream.
He had his orders, and he would do anything to satisfy Freya.
=Deeper in the forest=
Ais' eyes shifted left and right before they locked onto the figure that was slowly getting smaller in the distance, the damaged obsidian armor being illuminated by the red mist that followed him.
Pushing more mind power into her magic, she burst forward faster, getting closer and closer before his head turned a bit, but suddenly, he shot forward even faster than before, outpacing her as she poured as much mind power into Ariel as she could, feeling the strain as she ran and ran.
'Faster… faster!'
She chanted in her head, over and over again as her legs burned, her lungs feeling like she was inhaling smoke before she lost track of him for a split second.
'What?'
In an instant, his face was right up to hers next to her, glaring as her heart froze, everything going in slow motion as his lips moved.
'Fast!'
"What are you doing? Get back to the camp, stop following me" He uttered as she finally managed to stop, the two of them ended up in the middle of the forest, staring at one another as she panted, low to the ground as he just… stood there… menacingly.
"Bell… please" She begged once more as his expression hardened.
"Ais. Whatever you are thinking, stop. I have to do this… Kaius has to pay" His voice was so low she swore his throat rumbled in a growl. It worried her, but she knew she had to press on. She cared for him, deeply, far deeper than she'd cared about anyone but her mother and father.
"No." Was all she said as he blinked "I can't stop. You are hurting… and I want to help" She said honestly as she stood up straighter, putting her hand on her chest as her expression went soft, pleading with him.
"Bell, you are one of my closest friends, and I understand how you are feeling-"
"NO, YOU DON'T!" He lashed out as Ais flinched but remained steady, not wavering in the slightest.
"Yes, I do! I lost my both my mother and father to the dragon! I hated it, with every fiber of my being, still do! I pushed myself, and nearly killed myself time and time again by not listening to everyone around me!" Her voice grew louder and louder as she poured her heart out. Bell blinked, taking a step back as his resolve wavered once more, seeing the truth in her words.
"That Black flame… I know it… I too have it- and for the longest time, it was something that consumed me…" She stated, looking down as she squeezed her hand shut over her heart.
"But when you came along, you calmed that flame… and… for the first time, I could enjoy myself. I could feel… happy" Slowly, Bell's eyes widened at where this was going, shaking his head slowly.
"And I understand that it is not possible, but I need you to know how important you are to me. Bell, I really, really care about you… so, please… please allow me to repay the favor" She begged from the bottom of her heart. If Freya had been there, she would have been able to bear witness to that crack she had sparked, growing wider each second, threatening to break apart the shell he'd inadvertently created in his quest for vengeance, but the Black flames were not so easy to quench.
And so, it stopped just before cracking, the flames desperately holding it all together as his expression darkened and he shook his head.
"I'm sorry Ais, but I can't… this… has to be done"
The woman went through multiple emotions, one after another, before finally settling on reluctant acceptance as she drew her blade, her body shaking as she knew that this would not be easy.
"Then… then I will have to force you" She stated. She knew how dumb those words were before she even spoke them, but she could not give up. She had to try… and even if she fails here, then try again.
She can't give up on him…
Bell just stared, frustrated and angry, but deep inside, he was proud, and moved that she was willing to go so far for him… and that part also wondered just how far that was.
"And I will have to push past you, until you can't follow me anymore" He answered as he drew his own blade, getting into his stance.
One step after another, they circled before finally, Ais made her move. Activating her wind again, she shot forward, going in for a thrust only for Bell to answer with his own, the tip of his blade meeting hers as the two weapons clashed, the reverberations cracking the ground and breaking apart a few trees as Ais blinked.
'Wha-?' She thought, flabbergasted as the points of their blades were perfectly meeting one another, Bell's own holding hers in place right before he twisted his sword slightly dragging it along her rapier before he had it right against her throat.
"You should know by now that you can't beat me"
Jumping back to try to make some distance, her eyes trying to track him, but from her point of view, one instant he was at least ten meters away, only for her to suddenly have his palm right in front of her face as he spoke.
"I am far faster than you" He uttered, grabbing her head before kicking her feet from under her and smashing her into the ground as she struggled to try to pry his grip off of her.
"I am stronger than you" He spoke calmly right before she let one hand go and placed it onto the ground, using her wind to burst it open, creating cracks and uneven ground as Bell lost his footing slightly and let go.
Quickly retrieving her blade, she shot forward… she had one shot… one shot- because she knew his words were true, that he was superior in every way.
Her wind coalesced around her blade as she aimed her sword straight at his shoulder, not wanting to hurt him too badly.
"Lil Ragafga!" With more force than she'd ever poured into it, as she hadn't used the move ever since becoming level seven, she was not prepared for the shockwave and the blowback it resulted in.
Her entire body shook and ached, her bones rattling as her jaw clenched from the pain as she flinched.
And that didn't even account for how the entire forest seemed to cave in on itself in at least a hundred-meter radius, before her wind finally exploded outward, sending the debris in the air and the dust flying in every which direction.
*Pant* *Pant*
Ais panted, though slowly, she started paling as she felt the resistance to her blade, how her hand shook before the dust began to settle.
"Lastly, I am more durable than you can handle" Bell added insult as a final injury, her desperate having penetrated his armor and cleaved a decently large puncture wound as Bell glanced down at it.
"Hmm? You did more damage than I thought…" He muttered before slowly pushing the blade out of his wound, holding onto it tight.
"H-how…?" Ais breathed out in disbelief. Nothing… nothing had ever survived her Lil Rafaga, let alone taken so little damage. She'd expected her to at least get through his entire shoulder with her strongest attack…
But he's completely fine…!
Slowly, he began to increase the force he put in as he pushed back, slowly crushing her down as she desperately tried to hold back.
"Now… I am sorry, Ais… but this… it's the only way" He finished before in an instant, his skill activated, bathing her in a fear she had not felt since…
She stood there, staring up as the black winds of the black dragon raged around them, her mother screaming as she reached out towards Ais as she was surrounded in a brilliant light. The last moment, she reached out screaming her name, fearing for her life, and for the life of her mother.
"Mother!"
The memory flashed before her eyes as she found herself helpless right before his fist smashed against her face, her world spinning as she felt blood trickling down her head before darkness consumed her being.
=Day of Asuka's Arrival, One Day After the Ambush=
Finn stood by the eastern part of the fort, looking upon it as he waited. Hedin stood next to him, the both of them completely silent as they waited… and waited, until what they were anticipating occurred. Explosions began sounding as smoke began to rise on the other side of the fort as the prum, with his enhanced vision, to an extreme degree even to the prum race, watched as the enemy soldiers stationed on the lookout were scrambling to defend their western border from the barrage that had suddenly begun bombarding them.
"It's time" Finn spoke as the group that had gathered began to move. Finn was at the front as he readied his spear before he broke out into a sprint. Bete was right behind him as Hedin held his staff, and the rest of the combatants followed Finn's example, with Heith standing right beside the elven mage.
"Strike eternally, Immortal general of lightning." Hedin chanted and finished his super short magic faster than either Finn or Bete could reach the wall.
"Varian Hildr!" What was essentially instantly, an enormous bolt of lightning shot from his wand and traveled straight onto the ground in front of the flimsy stone wall, blowing everything in the vicinity away, and leaving a giant hole in the wall.
If one had had a birds-eye view, one would be able to see two breaches, parallel to one another on either side of the east and west.
"It seems you will not have much to do here, Heith" Hedin commented idly as he watched Braver and the others begin pouring into the fort.
"That is a good thing. I'd rather not have to spend my time healing idiots" The human girl commented, her usual tired look nowhere to be seen. She'd honestly enjoyed the last day thoroughly, resting like a log.
How often could she say she had an entire day she didn't have to spend at least half of it draining her mind, healing the battle-crazed maniacs surrounding her?
She'd honestly feared that this would turn into another 'Battle Wilderness' where she'd have to heal everyone constantly.
"Idiot, don't get your hopes up. There will be those that will get injured either way" Hedin scoffed as Heith couldn't help but let out a deep sigh. Well, might as well move.
Focusing back on the fort, Heith idly noted that smoke was rising from it with the sound of either screams or fighting traveling across to them as they walked closer.
That paired up with the bombardment that was still occurring on the other side… it was like hell was being rained down on the enemies on both fronts, one that was pushing forward, and the other being annihilated by magic attacks one after another.
It wasn't a bad strategy by any means, in fact, it was quite an effective one at that. Heith just hoped that as few people needed healing as possible by the end of the siege. She didn't want to exhaust herself for no good reason.
Meanwhile, inside the fort, Bete was sprinting forward as fast as he could kicking and punching any opponent that stood in his way as his eyes darted left and right.
"Tsk… where is that bastard?" He growled out. Finn had expressly given him the instruction to run wild while looking for the enemy commander. It was a simple enough command that Bete had no qualms following whatsoever.
The issue was that the guy was not showing himself.
Another Empiric soldier blocked his path as Bete twirled and sent a roundhouse kick, breaking his neck and sending him flying to the side and through multiple boxes, disappearing into a house as he broke through the wall.
"Tsk…" Bete clicked his tongue. He needed to be more careful, the more collateral, the more work there would be for them later one to repair everything on top of reinforcing the defenses.
The werewolf was not dumb by any means, and understood why this fort was so important for them to capture. Without it, they had no leverage to continue pushing onwards, as they'd run out of supplies before anyone could even come close to Rakia.
Rounding another corner, Bete stopped as he almost ran straight into Annakitty as she blinked at him.
"Bete-san? Have you found him?"
"What? Does it look like I have? Bastard is hiding here somewhere, and it's pissing me off!" Annakitty almost sweatdropped at the response. He wasn't kidding with it pissing him off, he really looked like he was about ready to just level the entire place.
"Let's look by-" The catgirl stopped as both felt the presence of at least a level five nearby, just having gotten into their range as both turned their head in that direction right in time to see an explosion of fire coming from the direction.
"Let's go!" Both shot forward, sprinting in the direction as they leaped up onto the rooftops for easier maneuvering. The moment they reached the area, they saw the person in question standing at the center, the man holding a sword and a shield but-
Annakitty blinked as she saw one of the Freya familia members leap towards him- Van, she thinks his name was, and twirled his twin blades as the man blocked just a single one with his shield before the area was bathed in light and the sound of thunder echoing around them right before they witnessed Van being sent flying backward through buildings one after another.
"Wha-?" The catgirl blinked as Bete frowned before shooting forward and shooting his leg up into an arc and smashing it down onto the head of his chosen opponent, only to feel complete and utter resistance, enough to not only confuse him but to send a shiver through his spine as he felt that resistance turns into retribution and suddenly, he too, felt as if someone had kicked him just as hard, spiraling him back into the building that Annakitty stood upon, rocking it roughly.
"Bete!" She called out in worry as she jumped down to check on him.
"Vanargan? Isn't this a pleasant surprise?" The man grinned as he turned to look at them.
"The hell did you do!?" Bete called out, getting back onto his feet, ignoring the pain as he grits his teeth in frustration. "It almost felt like I kicked myself"
"Why the hell would I tell you? Do you think I'm stupid?" The man asked, raising his shield in preparation as Bete growled. There had to be something that had caused what had just happened… a skill? Was that even po-!?
"You gotta be kidding me…" Bete uttered slowly as the memory of what Finn had said yesterday in that tent. Annakitty seemingly caught on as her eyes widened before she narrowed them, analyzing the man's equipment.
'-The Empire has been known to hoard ancient artifacts-'
'-These artifacts are extremely dangerous and are not to be taken lightly, even for us level sevens, and as such, we have to stay vigilant at all times-'
Those were the words Finn had stated… and they'd just witnessed a level seven being sent flying by what should be a level five… no, this is…
"That shield!" Annakitty called out as she noticed what was wrong. The object was exuding an aura… no, was it amplifying the man's strength!?
"Oh, so you did notice huh… guess the familia led by the Braver are pretty sharp huh…?" The man commented, frowning slightly as Bete took a step forward.
"Well, if that's the case, I'll just have to force it out of your hand" The man simply stared as the area went silent, only filling the the sounds of the fighting in other parts of the fort.
"Well, we'll see how that'll go for you" He stated before his expression darkened as the shield glowed slightly now that they were paying attention.
"Take the right… I'll take the left" Bete spoke softly as the cat girl nodded. The both of them split off, their feet carrying them as Bete was the first to appear to the enemy's left as he turned to face the werewolf.
Rushing in, Bete jumped lightly into the air, spinning around as he sent a roundhouse kick towards the man's head, but he raised the shield artifact up to block the blow, only for the attack to grace the top of the shield missing the mark entirely as the empiric man's eyes blinked in confusion, though in the corner of his vision, he spotted the smirk on the werewolves lips as he managed to turn around just in time to block Annakitty's blade with his shield as another blast of white and the sound of thunder returned, sending her spiraling backward uncontrollably before-
"Don't forget about me, dumbass!" Bete slammed and nailed him straight in the chest as for that moment, he watched, waiting for him to be sent flying-
*BOOM*
"Wha-!?" Bete screamed out as he was once more sent flying in a complete turn of events from his expectations. Wasn't the shield the artifact? What the hell is going on here?!
Planting his fingers into the ground, he skidded to a halt, digging small trenches from where he had continued on his path while slowing down.
"Bete! What's the situation?" The werewolf looked behind him, watching as Finn was sprinting towards him with his spear, the tup, and pommel coated in blood as the prum laid eyes on the man at the center.
As the prum moved, he idly picked up on the situation, noting the plethora of downed Freya Familia members… most were level five…
"Finn, that shield's an artifact. Any idea what we're dealing with here? The thing makes him impossible to hit. It's like kicking myself" Bete asked as Finn's thumb throbbed. There were so many potential artifacts that he honestly had to think for a second.
"Braver too? Is this supposed to be a party?" The man taunted with a grin before Finn stopped biting his thumb as it began to click.
"Attack reversal… thunderous sound… from a shield?" He muttered
".!?" His eyes widened as the prum instinctively took a step back in surprise. If that was what he thought it was… why-!?
"Is Kaius insane…?" Finn breathed out, honestly baffled.
"Oh?" The man tilted his head, amused at the prums words.
"Bete, if that is what I think it is… I honestly don't know what to do" Finn grimaced. To use that so early, was beyond anything Finn had thought Kaius would even consider. It was one artifact obscured through history, and the only reason he even knew about it was because Zeus had once told a tale about it back during the era of Zeus and Hera.
An artifact that had popped up and disappeared nearly six thousand years before the Argonaut was even supposed to have been born…
"Hey, Finn!? What the hell are we dealing with!?" Bete's loud voice snapped him out of his thoughts as he blinked and looked at him, Annakitty having joined them from where she had been launched previously.
"That… I think that is the 'Aegis Shield'"
"The what?" The catgirl asked, confused as she'd never even heard of it before.
"'The Aegis' shield. It's one of the oldest artifacts if one disregards divine artifacts such as the Hourglass of Chronos. The dwarf that made it, through some unknown means managed to give it a certain property… to completely revert any damage taken onto the attacker no matter where one is struck as long as the shield is held… making it virtually impossible for the user to fall in battle" Finn informed as both Bete and Annakitty blanched in absolute shock.
"The hell!? What are we even supposed to do against that shit!?" Bete asked as Annkitty shared the notion.
"The only way to defeat it… as it was once defeated before… is through the use of a divine weapon or artifact… as it cannot reflect the damage from those types of weapons" Finn's words made their hearts sink into their stomachs. The only divine weapon or artifacts they knew of, were potentially miles away from here, one with Fiona, The Hestia Knife… and one with Bell Cranel, The Spear of Orion.
Meaning currently… they had no way to counteract the trump card used by Kaius' forces.
"Shit…" Bete muttered as Finn honestly shared the sentiment. This entire situation had quickly derailed from this one development. For as long as that shield remained in the hands of the empire's forces, the entire siege had turned in the empire's favor.
They had the power advantage… while the empire had the versatility advantage…
'This was one hell of a versatility advantage…' Finn thought bitterly… and the others were currently busy with their own parts of the siege. Lefiya was leading the mages, while Hedin and Heith were probably reinforcing the western part with their magic… while they were in the dead center of the fort.
No, at the moment, their main course of action should be to buy time. The more people they are able to gather, the higher the chance they have to simply subdue him… but they don't know the limits of the Artifact… can it activate only from attacks, or are there other specific activation requirements?
So many unknowns… and Finn doesn't like that at all…
"Bete… don't attack, try to grab him, I'll be the distraction" Finn ordered right as he shot forward.
"Tsk… you're way too sharp for your own good, Braver" The man stated with a shake of his head as Finn ducked under a blow sent by him, twirling and twisting his spear before sending forward in a thrust, as the man moved to block it, but the attack was aimed just right, squeezing between every crevice as it just missed the helmet he was wearing, cutting off a single strand of hair.
At that moment, Bete slammed into him from behind, wrapping his arms around his arms in a lock as Finn quickly moved to try to disarm the shield, Annakitty grabbing and twisting his legs just enough that he couldn't move them without causing pain.
"Guh, god damn- I don't think so!"
Finn's eyes widened as the shield lit up as Finn instantly widened his eyes.
"LET GO! NOW-!" But it was too late, instantly Bete was launched upwards at astonishing speeds and the catgirl was once more thrust backward through multiple buildings… Finn on the other hand who had let go just in time didn't have the time to react to a shield bash from he the combined stun period of the blinding light and sound. The impact was followed by a repeat of the previous effect, knocking the wind out of him, as Finn felt one of his ribs break right before he flew through building after building, rolling and crashing uncontrollably for what felt like too long before finally stopping.
Slowly, rolling over onto his back, he felt that familiar sensation as he turned his head, coughing up blood onto the ground as his hand shook.
What the… why was it so much stronger that time? Bete had at least felt it before, and he wasn't anywhere hurt enough to even look winded.
Did…!?
Finn clenched his chest as he forced himself to stand and get up on his feet, looking back to where both Bete and Annakitty were being sent flying left and right.
Does…- is it capable of stockpiling the excess damage that's taken and releasing it all in a single burst… has all the other times only been sending them flying backward with a portion of the force…?
The prum looked back down at his hand. It was shaking still, and he couldn't help but wonder what the limit was if there even was one to the Aegis shield.
From where he stood at the moment, there seemed to be none, and his mind was reeling, running on overtime trying to figure out a way around this entire turn of events.
…
"Are you struggling against one opponent, Prum?" Finn closed his eyes, pushing back the irritation before he looked over his shoulder.
"Hedin, he is wielding an artifact. We have to-" Finn's words were cut off as the magic circle appeared underneath the elf as he began chanting.
"Strike eternally, immortal general of lightning." Hedin quickly chanted out as Finn instantly panicked
"Wait! Hedin, don't!" He warned, but to no avail- the elf wasn't listening as he aimed his staff. Finn couldn't even move to try to intercept before the words came out of Hedin's mouth.
"Varian Hildr!" The large blast of lighting shot forward as Bete and Annakitty turned and leaped out of the way, thought the werewolf who had been straight in its path and the closest was felt some of the magic singe his clothes and skin, before it slammed straight into the artifact wielding enemy, the explosion from the blast burning and sending debris everywhere.
As the dust dissipated, the silhouette of the man still stood there as the elf frowned, but as his body became visible, lightning traveled over his form as he stood there, twitching, his teeth clattering uncontrollably.
"P-Par-raly-y-yzin-n-ng A-a-at-ttaa-c-ck?" He got out in surprise and confusion as Finn blinked. Status ailments work? No… most likely, it was only the status ailments that didn't actually hurt the user, but it was some information that was worth noting.
"Strange…" Hedin muttered before Finn remembered why he had been so against Hedin using his magic in the first place-
Bete ran forward, intending to send another kick as the man prepared to bash with his shield.
"BETE! RETREAT!" The werewolf, unlike the elf, instantly skid to a halt as the bash missed him just by a hair width, as the sound sounded once more as he instantly was sent flying in a similar manner Finn had been. For the split moment the prum saw him, he noticed how the werewolf's arm had been twisted to the side before disappearing into the collapsing buildings.
"Damnit, that is why I told you to stop, Hedin. That artifact can absorb and rebound all damage taken by the user, back at its attacker at will" Finn hissed out.
":.." Hedin remained silent as he had no rebuke for that statement. From that short display, that was the only logical conclusion…
"Man! Is this all Orario has to offer!? This is a cakewalk!"
"Says the guy using an artifact!" Annakitty shot back as she jumped back from an attack from the man, before he pressed the advantage, sending sword strikes and shield bashes against the catgirl as she hissed at him.
She honestly had no idea what to do, all she could do was dodge. If she so much as touched him, she'd be sent flying, and she already felt sore from it… and-!
Her arm hit the corner of a wall, sending her movement off course just enough for his sword to cut into her arm before he thrust forward, the blade embedding itself inside the woman's abdomen.
Pain filled her…
"GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM HER!" Bete came spiraling in right as Hedin shot another lighting blast forward, the magic being absorbed by his Folsvirt boots right before he slammed his foot down against the shoulder of the man, paralyzing him right before both he and Annakitty felt the resulting backlash as the added force of the magic as he felt the bones in his leg break alongside a couple of ribs, while some organs seemed to take heavy damage, sending him straight up into the air at extreme speeds.
Annakitty though was not as lucky as him, the amount of damage she sustained from the attack instantly broke half her bones, her organs almost liquifying as she flew, spun, and twisted unnaturally back and into the ground, digging a trench as she came to a halt right in front of Finn who looked on in horror.
"Annakitty…!" Finn called out, running up to her as Bete finally landed close by, bouncing off the ground as he struggled to get up.
No response came from the woman as she simply lay there, her chest not moving whatsoever.
"No…" The prum breathed out as Hedin stared and felt a tiny tinge of pity as Bete finally crawled up onto his feet.
"Hey… get up…" He called out to the downed woman as he limped forward, his broken leg slowing him down.
"Hey!"
"Come on! Do you think it's over!?" The man taunted from a distance, the paralysis effect having run out as Bete growled out in a low rumble…
This… this was not good.
"You… BASTARD!" Bete roared, ignoring his broken leg as he shot forward, slamming his fist against the man's face, only spiraling backward again, coming to a stop next to the elven mage who honestly had nothing in his sleeve that could turn the table, a sneer on his face as he aimed it at the opponent in front of them.
But that did not mean that they had lost… they still had one trump card up their sleeve… one that no one had truly seen outside their familia's home, or on a battlefield. It was time to change this battle into one that the Freya Familia was all too familiar with…
The elf turned his head to the side as he saw said trump card walking towards them, her long light red hair waving in the wind as she stopped, standing there, shifting her stance, her arms held out as her glare bore coldly onto the empire's soldier.
"Let's get this started…" Hedin uttered
"My name is gold. The arm of the goddess who took an oath of immortality." She chanted, her magic circle appearing underneath her, her entire form slowly igniting in golden flames.
"Get up, Barbarians!" Hedin called out loudly, aimed not specifically at the Loki familia, members present, but those of the Freya Familia that had laid there since the start.
"The flaming spear prison, the light that kills death. Curse. Curse. Curse. My body is gold." The golden flames around Heith intensified, turning into an inferno, spreading around her magic circle and on the ground, tickling Finn, Bete, and Annakitty, as the former two felt their bones start to men and their wounds close, slowly, but faster, and faster by the second.
"This is now another 'Battle Wilderness'. Struggle, until you drop. Do not stop until the end!" Hedin's voice was loud enough to echo all around them as the flames reached some of the downed Freya Familia, their bodies rousing and twitching.
"Here comes the endless struggle under the reviving light." She finished her chant before her glare seemed to gain a tint of gold, looking almost like a golden emissary that brought nothing but despair.
"Zeo Gullveig!" Instantly, the inferno exploded, the wounds of even the most injured violently twisting back into their natural state, practically snapping the bones and ligaments in the correct positioning. Annakitty instantly regained consciousness as the effects of the magic washed over her. Gasping out, she drank the air like sweet nectar, having felt the magic of Vana Mardoll for the first time.
As for the Freya familia… they all stood up, some who had lost limbs pushing them back to their stumps, as the hissing sound of the magic doing its work reattached them as if the wound was never there.
What had only been essentially three opponents with dozens on the ground was steadily climbing at an alarming rate the fallen rising from defeat… Ten, twenty, thirty…
Then she spoke, Heith's voice cold, yet welcoming, her magic circle starting up once more.
"My name is gold." She began chanting again as Finn blinked, turning to look at her in confusion… why was she-?
"The Earth of gold, an all-consuming and all-encompassing endless ground that blesses us all."
Bete too turned around, noticing the difference in the chant. Vana Mardoll was known for her enormous mind reserves and healing capacity second only to the Dea Saint. But until now, not even the Loki Familia had seen her magic firsthand. It was a sight that was foreign to them, and awe-inspiring nonetheless.
A mage on the front lines, with no fear in their eyes as they exposed themselves to the enemy. It was completely unheard of outside of the Hera familia's 'Silence'... and she had been a mage, but this was a healer.
"Goddess whose flesh I consumed, gifted by the heavens- the power of gold, immortality personified. Bless. Bless. Bless." The Freya familia members all, almost as if in tandem, they all had the same thought, burst forward, attacking endlessly as the light and thunderous sounds echoed again and again.
"My body, vessel for her divine will. Divinity, endless and powerful, through my body and through the ground." The magic circle underneath Heith lit up, signaling the completion of her magic as the golden flames that had been reignited grew far brighter than before, almost as if ready to burst.
"Earth Gullveig!" The flames shot down into the ground, cracks of gold traveling into all of those she deemed allies, including the Loki Familia members as their own bodies glowed with golden flames.
The Freya familia assault continued, over and over as the enemy captain began sweating attacks incoming from every angle, no matter how many times he sent them flying, they kept attacking again and again, the assault never-ending before he locked eyes with Heith for one split moment.
For the first time in that battle, he couldn't help but think that he had seen the face of the devil, her look promising that his struggle would continue on and on, until he died. He felt fear.
Then… she spoke…
"Try to survive, brave barbarian… let the struggle never end, and may it bless you, until the bitter end"
And there you have it, chapter 73 is complete. Man, I had a blast writing this chapter. We are really starting to get into the action sequences. I (Eli) love the idea of the 'Battle Wilderness', and found it fitting in this situation… though don't think that's the end of that struggle (no pun intended), there is still more to happen there.
I can understand that this entire chapter can be a bit confusing given the jumping back and forth in time, but I hope it wasn't too bad.
Anyway, before moving on to the reviews, I wanted to repeat myself that Chapters 74 and 75 are already available on my Patreon.
Now, let's get straight into the reviews!
White-Ryuu: I was thinking and I realized that Bell doesn't have an area spell. I know that Bell isn't a mage but a new area spell or a sub-spell with characteristics like the Sasuke's Kirin will be awesome. that he figures out how to use mana from the environment to boost his own spells or turn them into area spells could be a nice power-up.
Author: I understand and see the merit in the idea. Might actually keep it for a character in a future story, but unfortunately, we have already planned out Bell's entire status for the story, and don't want to change it. Thank you for the suggestion though!
NinjaFang1331: Bell is now hunting traitors and Poor Narvi what did you do...should have known better.
Author: Yes, she should have, but there will be more from her later, but she wasn't meant to be a giant plot point, but it will hit the Loki familia's trust in each other a bit going forward. Kind of looking forward to that haha.
Frey55639: Did this ever describe what Epsilon looks like? Because every time I hear the name, I always picture the Epsilon from The Eminence in Shadow.
Author: Haha, yeah, I get that. But if you want to know what Epsilon looks like in TFA, then search up 'Narvi Roll'. The picture in the Danmachi Wiki will be a good reference, only imagine her a bit older and her hair just a bit longer and you get a good idea.
Anyway, that's all the reviews, and as always, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and to see you next time!